The narrative takes a turn when Alex finds solace in stand-up comedy, using his personal experiences as material. Chris and Jessica discuss the raw honesty of his performances and how they serve as a therapeutic outlet for his emotions. The episode highlights a pivotal moment when Tess unexpectedly attends one of Alex's shows, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of their individual journeys. Tess, a former US volleyball player, embarks on her own transformation, becoming a coach and rediscovering her identity.
The hosts also touch on the supporting characters, including Alex's best friends Christine and Balls, portrayed by Andrew Day and Bradley Cooper, whose tumultuous relationship offers a contrasting perspective on marriage. Chris and Jessica commend the performances, particularly noting Laura Dern's ability to convey the complexities of her character with depth and nuance.
While the film grapples with significant themes of connection, identity, and reinvention, the hosts acknowledge its occasional Hollywood gloss. Despite some uneven pacing, they agree that it poses thought-provoking questions about relationships and emotional connection. Inspired by the true story of comedian John Bishop, *Is This Thing On?* is a heartfelt cinematic experience that resonates with anyone reflecting on love and loss.
With a score of 7.5 out of 10, this episode invites listeners to consider the intricacies of relationships through the lens of humor and authenticity. Join Chris and Jessica as they unpack this engaging film, reminding us that even the messiest of breakups can lead to self-discovery and growth.
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Chris: Okay, so here's something to think about.
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 What if the end of a marriage wasn't about
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 drama or betrayal, but just
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 quiet acceptance? That's the premise
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 Bradley Cooper explores in his latest film,
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 Is this Thing On? And it's
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 surprisingly relatable.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 Jessica: That's such an understated way to approach a
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 breakup. Most movies about relationships
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 falling apart tend to go big. Fights,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 tears, dramatic exits. What's the story
00:00:28 --> 00:00:28 here?
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 Chris: The film opens with Alex and Tess Novak,
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 played by Will Arnett and Laura Dern,
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 deciding to end their 26 year marriage.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 There's no shouting or slamming doors, just a
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 simple mutual acknowledgment that it's over.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 Alex moves into a small bachelor pad while
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 Tess stays in the family home with their twin
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 10 year old boys. It's all very civil,
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 almost unsettlingly so.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 Jessica: That's such a different tone from what you'd
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 expect. So what drives the narrative
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 forward? It doesn't sound like there's much
00:00:59 --> 00:01:00 conflict.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 Chris: The story really picks up when Alex stumbles
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 into stand up comedy. He's walking past a
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 club, doesn't want to pay the $15 cover
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 charge and is told he can get in for free if
00:01:12 --> 00:01:13 he does a five minute set.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 So he gets up on stage with no plan,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 no material, and just starts talking about
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 his marriage breakdown. It's raw, it's
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 honest and somehow it works.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 The audience connects with him and he finds
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 this unexpected outlet for his emotions.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:33 Jessica: That's such an interesting choice for a
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 character arc. Comedy is therapy.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 It makes sense. Some of the best
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 comedians turn their pain into humor, but I
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 imagine this complicates things with Tess.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 How does she react to Alex airing their
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 personal life on stage?
00:01:49 --> 00:01:50 Chris: That's where things get really interesting.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 One night Tess shows up at a comedy club
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 where Alex is performing, completely unaware
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 of his new hobby. And Alex has no idea
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 she's in the audience. It's this pivotal
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 moment in the film, almost like a, ah,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 crossroads for their relationship. Tess
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 isn't just there to watch Alex though. She's
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 also going through her own transformation.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 She's a former US volleyball player and she
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 decides to get back into the sport, this time
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18 as a coach.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 Jessica: I love that Tess has her own arc. It's not
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 just about Alex's journey. She's
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 rediscovering herself too. It sounds like the
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 movie gives equal weight to both characters
00:02:28 --> 00:02:28 stories.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 Chris: Exactly. And it's not just about Alex and,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 uh, Tess. Their best friends Christine and
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 Balls, yes, his name is Balls. Are also
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 dealing with a crumbling marriage. Christine,
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 played by Andra Day, is Angry and frustrated.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 While Balls, played by Bradley Cooper, is a
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 struggling B grade actor. Their relationship
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 is much more volatile, almost like a mirror
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 to Alex and Tess's quieter dynamic.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 Jessica: Wait, his name is Balls?
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 That's a choice, but I
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 guess it adds some levity to what sounds like
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 a pretty heavy story. How does Bradley
00:03:04 --> 00:03:05 Cooper do in the role?
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 Chris: He's great. He's heavily bearded and almost
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 unrecognizable, but he brings this mix of
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 humor and sadness to the character.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 Andraday is fantastic too. She
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 channels this pent up energy, this simmering
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 anger that feels so real. Their
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 dynamic adds another layer to the film,
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 showing a different kind of marital struggle.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 Jessica: It sounds like the movie is juggling a lot.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 Two marriages, individual character arcs,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 comedy, drama. Does it all come
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 together or does it feel a bit scattered?
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 Chris: It takes a little while to find its footing.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 The beginning feels a bit awkward, both in
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 terms of the story and how it's presented.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 But once it gains traction, it becomes a more
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 conventional narrative. There's a rawness to
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 it, especially in the way the characters
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 express their frustrations and desires.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 Will Arnett is very authentic as Alex,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:00 stumbling his way through this new chapter of
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 his life. And Laura Dern, as always, is
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 phenomenal. She plays Tess with such depth
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 and nuance, you can feel her disappointment,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 her longing, her resilience.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 Jessica: Laura Dern is incredible. She has this way
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 of making you feel everything her character
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 is going through.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 And it sounds like the supporting cast is
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 strong too. Christine Ebersole and
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 Ciaran Hynes play Alex's parents. Right?
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 Chris: Yes, and they're great. Ebersole plays
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 Marilyn, Alex's mother, who's not exactly
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 warm or empathetic. She's a bit
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 detached, almost cold. Heinz, on
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 the other hand, plays Jan, Alex's father,
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 who's much more in tune with his son. Their
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 dynamic adds another layer to Alex's story,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 showing where some of his insecurities and
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 struggles might come from.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 Jessica: It sounds like the movie touches on a lot of
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 themes. Connection, identity,
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 reinvention. Does it feel heavy handed
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 or does it strike the right balance?
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 Chris: It's a bit of both. There are moments where
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 it leans into the Hollywood treatment. Things
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 get a little too neat, a little too sweet.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 But overall it raises important questions
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 about what it means to connect with someone
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 and what happens when that connection fades.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 It's not perfect, but it's heartfelt and
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 thought provoking.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 Jessica: And it's inspired by a true story. Right.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 Something about British comedian John Bishop.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 Chris: M. That's right. In 2000, Bishop
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 was separated from his wife and decided to
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 try an open mic night. He ended up using his
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 personal experiences as material and it
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 became a turning point for him. His wife even
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 showed up at one of his shows without knowing
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 he was performing, which is directly mirrored
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 in the film. Bishop shared this story with
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 Will Arnett, who co wrote the screenplay with
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 Bradley Cooper and Marc Chappelle.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 Jessica: That's such a fascinating origin story. It
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 makes the film feel more authentic knowing
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 it's rooted in real life experiences.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 So, final thoughts? Would you recommend
00:06:02 --> 00:06:02 it?
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 Chris: I would. It's not a flawless film, but
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 it's worth watching for the performances and
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 the themes it explores. It's rated um,
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 M and I'd give it a solid 7.5 out of
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 10.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 Jessica: Sounds like one to check out. I love movies
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 that make you think about life and
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 relationships, even if they're a little
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 messy. Thanks for walking me through it.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 You've been listening to movies first
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 iHeartRadio or your favourite podcast
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 player.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 Chris: You can also stream on demand@bytes.com
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 this has been another quality podcast
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 production from bytes.com.